Jennifer Hudson

Biography

Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Hudson rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, placing seventh. She made her film debut as Effie White in the musical Dreamgirls (2006), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the youngest African-American to win in a competitive acting category. After signing to Arista Records, Hudson released her self-titled debut studio album in 2008, which was certified Gold in the US and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Hudson's subsequent studio albums, I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), both charted within the top ten of the Billboard 200, with the former also being certified Gold in the US. Meanwhile, her other acting roles include the films Sex and the City (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Winnie Mandela (2011), Black Nativity (2013), Sing (2016), Cats (2019) and Respect (2021), the television shows Smash (2012), Empire (2015) and Confirmation (2016), and her Broadway debut with the musical The Color Purple. Hudson also contributed as a coach on the UK and the US version of The Voice from 2017 up to 2019, becoming the first female coach to win the former.

Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The Graham Norton Show

All Movies (62)

Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk2026 · as Ophelia the owl (voice)
PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie2026 · as (voice)
The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy2026 · as Self
GOAT2026 · as Louise Harris (voice)
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony2025 · as Self
Grace for the World2025 · as Self
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl2025 · as Self
Diane Warren: Relentless2025 · as Self
Christmas with Andrea Bocelli & Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special2024
92nd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center2024 · as Self
Josh Groban & Friends: Home for the Holidays2024 · as Self
American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special2024 · as Self
Breathe2024 · as Maya
Christmas at Graceland2023 · as Self
Tell It Like a Woman2022 · as Pepcy / Kim
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony2021 · as Self
Respect2021 · as Aretha Franklin
Monster2021 · as Mrs. Harmon
Roll Up Your Sleeves2021 · as Self
Baba Yaga2021 · as Forest (voice)
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special2020 · as Self
In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover2020 · as Jennifer Hudson
Global Goal: Unite for Our Future | The Concert2020 · as Self
The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II2020 · as Self
One World: Together at Home2020 · as Self
Cats2019 · as Grizabella
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"2019 · as Self
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé2019 · as Self
Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul2019 · as Self
Happy Hour with Olly Murs2018 · as Self
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones2018 · as Self
A Very Pentatonix Christmas2017 · as Self
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives2017 · as Self
Sandy Wexler2017 · as Courtney Clarke
Hairspray Live!2016 · as Motormouth Maybelle
Sing2016 · as Young Nana (voice)
Confirmation2016 · as Angela Wright
Chi-Raq2015 · as Irene
The Concert for Valor2014 · as Self - Performer
Lullaby2014 · as Nurse Carrie
And the Oscar Goes To...2014 · as Self - Interviewee
Black Nativity2013 · as Naima
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete2013 · as Gloria
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film2013 · as Maggie
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You2012 · as Self
The Three Stooges2012 · as Sister Rosemary
Always Whitney Houston2012 · as Self
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade2011 · as Self
VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul2011 · as Self
Winnie Mandela2011 · as Winnie Mandela
Jennifer Hudson: I'll Be Home for Christmas2009 · as Self
VH1 Divas 20092009 · as Self
Winged Creatures2009 · as Kathy Archenault
Michael Jackson Memorial2009 · as Self
DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 702009 · as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Life of Bees2008 · as Rosaleen Daise
Live from the Red Carpet: Sex and the City2008 · as Self
Sex and the City2008 · as Louise
Elmo's Christmas Countdown2007 · as Self
Dreamgirls2006 · as Effie White
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas2006 · as Jewel
The Making of 'Sex and the City'— · as Self

All TV Shows (42)

Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur2023 · as Mane (voice)
The Jennifer Hudson Show2022 · as Self - Host
Sherri2022 · as Self - Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
American Idol2018 · as Self - Guest Judge
Forensic Justice2016 · as Self (archive footage)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest
Celebrity Family Feud2015 · as Self - Contestant
The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self
Empire2015 · as Michelle White
Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self - Guest
The Voice2012 · as Jennifer Hudson
The Voice UK2012 · as Self - Coach
Smash2012 · as Veronica Moore
The Jonathan Ross Show2011 · as Self
The Voice2011 · as Self - Coach
The Voice2011 · as Self - Mentor
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
Project Runway2004 · as Self - Guest Judge
The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
American Idol2002 · as Self
American Idol2002 · as Self - Musical Guest
American Idol2002 · as Self - Contestant
American Idol2002 · as Self - Performer
Live from E!2002 · as Self
The Early Show1999 · as Self
The View1997 · as Self
The View1997 · as Self - Guest
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
Entertainment Tonight1981 · as Self
The American Film Institute Salute to ...1973 · as Self - Musical Guest
The Grammys1959 · as Self
The Oscars1953 · as Self
Today1952 · as Self
Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Presenter